EIR - Popes Road development communications [Jan 2023]

Your request  

1. Copies of all communications between the Mayor's Office, GLA Officers and the applicant, the applicant's agents or representatives, Historic England and Lambeth Council. 
2. Dates and details of all meetings held between GLA officers and the applicant, the applicant's agents or representatives, Historic England and Lambeth Council, including agendas, minutes and notes taken.

Our response

Please find attached the information we hold within the scope of your request.

We also held a presentation delivered at a GLA meeting on 9 August 2022, entitled ‘Reduced Height Study’. After careful consideration, we have decided that this is exempt information by virtue of the disclosure-exception provisions found under regulation 12(4)(d) of the EIR Regulation 12(4)(d) is engaged when the request relates to material that is still in the course of completion, unfinished documents or incomplete data. If the information in question falls into one of these categories, then the exception is engaged.

Guidance published by the Information Commissioner clarifies:

'The fact that the exception refers to both material in the course of completion and unfinished documents implies that these terms are not necessarily synonymous. While a particular document may be itself be finished, it may be part of material still in the course of completion. An example may be where a public authority is formulating and developing policy.'

The same guidance also clarifies that material which is still in the course of completion can include information created as part of the process by which it formulates policy and reaches decisions. It is not necessary for the GLA to demonstrate where disclosure might have a particular adverse effect in order to engage the exception, but any adverse effects of disclosure may be relevant in the public interest considerations which the GLA is required to balance in order to decide whether the information should be withheld.

There is a strong public interest in the release of information that would inform and engage public debate on issues pertinent to major planning applications. The release of this report would also therefore help reassure the public that we are considering the most appropriate options and advice regarding the Lambeth College site.

There is a general public interest in transparency in relation to planning and development matters, particularly in the decision making behind, and progress of, developments of this size and impact. Disclosure of this information would enable the community affected by the development to understand more fully the decision making process.

Effective policy and decision making should be informed by engaging with the public and key stakeholders; however this engagement needs to be structured to be effective. Release of this information at this time would divert attention and resources away from the task at hand and towards responding to external thoughts whilst discussions are still ongoing.

In this instance, disclosure at this stage would be likely to undermine dialogue between the GLA and the applicant. For example, there are rendered townscape images in the pack which would suggest a resolved re-design when in fact these are indicative massing changes for debate with planning officer.  

Furthermore, there is an intention to share the option studies as part of the community engagement which is imminent.

The best interests of the public (the public interest) are best served by ensuring that public authorities continue to deliberate robustly and comprehensively, considering all options and their potential impacts, in order for the best possible decisions to be taken.

Finally, please note that reference is made within the emails to a work programme. However, we do not hold any further information in relation to this.

If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact us, quoting reference MGLA061222-4983.